WIP & Open Science Session

Low-intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Of The Cerebellum

Presented by Caroline Nettekoven

Abstract: We are interested in how specific brain circuits, particularly the cerebellum, shape human cognition and motor control. This could improve our understanding of conditions in which these same circuits are affected. To study this, we will use a non-invasive brain stimulation method that uses ultrasound waves, called transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS). A single session has reversible effects that typically last about an hour. The key advantage of TUS is that it can reach deeper brain structures, including individually defined targets in the cerebellum. Because TUS was established more recently than other stimulation or imaging methods, the research systems are not yet CE-marked (meaning the companies have not yet undergone checks to show the product complies with EU legislation).

In this project, we will test whether personalised TUS can produce temporary changes in cerebellar-cortical circuits that support cognition (e.g., prediction, attention, working memory, language, and social reasoning) and movement.

Our primary objective is to assess how TUS alters brain activity and behaviour on brief cognitive tasks in healthy adults, using MR-based and behavioural measures acquired after stimulation.

Ultimately, this work aims to provide causal evidence for a cerebellar role in movement and cognition and to determine whether individually targeted TUS can modulate these circuits in a safe, tolerable, and replicable way, informing future work in neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Open Science Session - details tbc